Around 2,500 fascists marched in central London on Saturday in a sign of how mainstream politicians have boosted the far right. 

　　The largely old, male and rag tag bunch of thugs swarmed Russell Square and then marched to Whitehall, with Union Jack, St George’s and Israeli flags. 

　　Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) organised a counter-rally, which saw around 100 people show their opposition to the fascist threat.

　　The fascist march was organised by the remnants of the Football Lads Alliance and people part of the “Save the Children” campaign. Small sections were part of the Christian right.

　　The far right seized on horrific child sexual exploitation scandals in England to push a racist agenda. The police, councils and authorities failed victims of sexual exploitation because of sexism, not because of race or “political correctness”.

　　But the far right claims it’s down to Asian or Muslim “grooming gangs” to push a vicious racist agenda. 

　　The fascist marchers were clearly emboldened by Keir Starmer capitulating this month to far right demands for a national inquiry into “grooming gangs”. One fascist said it was “amazing to hear all the things we’ve been pushing for years are being discussed” in the mainstream. 

　　On the SUTR side, student Hassan told Socialist Worker, “Kemi Badenoch was jumping onto the far right bandwagon and Keir Starmer is doing the same.”

　　“Make America Great Again has infected European politics. I’m here as an immigrant. This is scary for me. This is the time to step up.”

　　A Bectu union member told Socialist Worker that the trade unions needed to be involved in the anti-racist movement. “I go to all the protests, you need the bite of the union,” he said. 

　　Fiona Sim from the Black Liberation Alliance said, “We live in a society where Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson exploit people’s trauma for their own profit.”

　　“They want us to cower away at home and think there is no hope. But the truth is that we are stronger when we are together than when apart.”

　　“Generations have stood against the fascists. That is why we are here to say.”

　　Vicious racism was on display throughout the fascist march. Chants of, “Allah, Allah, who the fuck is Allah,” broke out. 

　　One fascist said, “Car washers, Uber drivers, the Deliveroo lot—all illegals, isn’t it? I take my pizza and think, you’re off back to fucking Baghdad mate.” He said he’d “starve” them and “send them back in a fucking package”.

　　On Whitehall one speaker said, “This ain’t about race, not about colour—it’s about our children.” But, in the same breath, he praised the slogan, “One colour, one nation.”

　　Nazi Tommy Robinson wasn’t there. But that didn’t stop chants of, “Oh Tommy Tommy, Tommy Tommy Tommy Robinson,” breaking out. 

　　He plans to mobilise in London on Saturday 13 September. 

　　The rise of far right party Reform UK, and Labour ramping up scapegoating of migrants, is emboldening the fascists. 

　　Samira Ali, national organiser for SUTR, told Socialist Worker, “It is important we stand here today in opposition to the far right. But the context of this demonstration is dangerous.”

　　“The big one is 13 September, which is Robinson’s demonstration and needs to be the calendar of every anti-racist.”

　　“We have a much bigger fight on our hands and we need to organise.”

　　As we come up to the one-year anniversary of the far right riots last summer, anti-racists cannot let the fascists get on the front foot. 

　　Editor: Zhong Yao  LiuTingting

　　From:https://socialistworker.co.uk/anti-racism/fascist-march-london-boosted-by-starmers-racist-rhetoric/(2025-6-28)